Bengaluru's Yellow Line gets 14th train; final delivery expected by end of July

Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has received the 14th train for the Yellow Line of Namma Metro at the Hebbagodi depot. The six-coach train was unloaded on July 9, followed by the fitment of couplers and gangways, before being shifted to the Inspection Bay Line for further testing, officials said.

With this delivery, Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), the manufacturer based near Kolkata, has only one more train to deliver for the Yellow Line. The final train is expected by the end of July.

The new train will undergo mandatory testing before entering passenger service. According to an official, “Following the assembly process, the train will undergo static inspections before commencing the mandatory 750-km dynamic testing on the main line. These trials are conducted only at night to avoid disrupting regular passenger operations. Successful completion of the testing is essential before the train can be inducted into commercial service.”

At present, 10 trains are operational on the 19.75-km Yellow Line corridor. They provide metro services at a peak-hour frequency of around seven minutes, and a 10-minute frequency during off-peak hours. Once all 15 trains are commissioned, BMRCL expects to reduce waiting time significantly, with trains operating every four to five minutes during peak hours.

Of the 15 trains, 13 are expected to be deployed for regular passenger services, while two trainsets will be maintained as reserve stock to ensure uninterrupted operations during emergencies, fleet maintenance, or unforeseen technical issues, officials said. BMRCL aims to have the entire fleet operational by the end of August.

After completing the Yellow Line order, Titagarh Rail Systems will shift its focus to manufacturing and supplying 18 additional trains for the Purple and Green lines.

The Yellow Line, connecting Bengaluru’s southern neighbourhoods with Electronics City and integrating them with the wider Namma Metro network, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 10, 2025, and opened to the public the following day.

The corridor is the first in the Namma Metro network to feature Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology, which enables driverless train operations. However, services are currently being operated manually by trained operators while the advanced signalling system undergoes implementation in phases. Once full CBTC functionality is activated, the technology will allow trains to operate with reduced headway of around 90 seconds, compared to the current capability of approximately 150 seconds. This is expected to improve operational efficiency, increase service frequency, and enhance passenger convenience, according to officials.